Metatarsal arch support



June 24,1930. w. SCHOLL 1,

METAT'ARSAL ARCH SUPPORT Filed Dew. 1, 1924 William -$2102;

positions.

Patented June. 24, 193 0 U ITE we WIL M L 'L Q TQH QC LL NQ i mnriirn'nsar. Anon surr'onr Application filedlecember 1, 1924 Serial No. #531,330.

. The invention relates to orthopaediciap pliances for correcting malformedfeet. r The device is'especially applicable 'forsupportingthe metatarsal bones of the feet to maintain the'normal metatarsal arch.

Many adults suflerfrom the results arising from depressed or .fallen metatarsal arches due tothe weakening and elongation of the ligaments which normallyjsupport and hold the metatarsal bones'in their normal healthy Frequently other complications set in after a protracted time until thejoints are permanently dislocated and. displaced.

vide an improved device, orfoot appliance,

which will transversely contract the forepart of the foot and support the displaced parts thereof in their natural position.

Another object is to provide animproved arch support having means toindividually supporteither ofthe five metatarsals'of the foot and rotatably shiftable, transverselyof the foot, whereby the support may be located under-any part of the footwithin its shiftable path to elevate and holdany one of the metatarsal bones elevated in its natural position.

Another object is to provide anarch support to be held in place by a flexible band and having an insertable' pad heldin place Within a pocket'thereof, by said band, Another objectis to providefanfarch support having a pocket within which toinsert the padsfan'd which is closed, f0re'jand aft, by stitching or otherwise, and having a side opening only, which side opening is closed by said band after the pads'have been inserted.

Other objects and advantages of the in.

vention will appear 'to the person skilled in the art from the description when taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:

Figure/1 is a side elevation of the device showing the band reversed to'makethe openof pads.

ing' in the pocket accessible insertion Figure 2 is a side-elevation (5f the device; wlth the band in its normal'position, showing the pocket closed by the'band;

Figure '8 is a section takenon line33 of Figure 2.

of Figure 5. H

Figure 5 is a plan view of the device, show ing one place of the pocket structure broken aWay.-. I 1 Figure 6 is a bottomplan view of a foot Figure 4 is asection taken online showing the device inposition thereon:

' Inall the views,the's'ame reference characters are used toindicate sirnilar parts.

The part whlch-extends around transversely of the foot consists of a rubber bandage 10,

made of an elastic fabric or stripijoined' to- Igether end to end as at 11, and 11, making the seam12, between the ends 11 and 11", by which the parts are held inthe same plane.

The object of this is to prevent double thick- V ness of theband which'would make a'hurnp to the discomfort of-the wearer. v I I The pocketstructure 14 consists'of two plate members-15 and '16 of relatively stiff materialwith respect to the character of the bandage orband 10 and are preferably made of leather or .the like. "The fore-and-aft edgesl'? and 18of the pocket structure are held together as by stitching 19, and the side edges are left open, whereby to constructa -pocketwith the opening of the pocket being along the side edges, or'one thereof, instead of being at either end. 3 The band 10 is sewed to thepocket-member 16by stitching through the center of the seam 20 which holds theends 1'1 and 11 together; A pieceof material 21 substantially as flexible aseither of the plate mernbers'l5 and 16 and substantially as thick as the band or 'b'andage'IO, is placed in front ofthe'bandage sothat the. parts underlining the plate 15 will be substantially of uniform "thickness." Y r In the pocket, between themembers 15 and I6, is 'infsertable a cushion or pad 22 to raise the member 15, to a greater orless extent,*to provide. an arch support for elevating and members, one on each side of said bandage,

holding the metatarsals of the foot in their natural positions.

In Figure 6, the device is shown as applied to the bottom of the foot. It is manifest that it may be shifted laterally from the position shown, to be located under another affected part of the foot. One or more pads 22 may be inserted in the pocket and they may. each be of any thickness desired or shaped in form for the requirements of the foot. In Figure 1, two pads are shown in thepocket, while in Figures 3 and 4, only one pad n is shown therein.

The pocket, formed of the plate members 15 and 16, is open at its side edges, or at least one edge thereof,and closedat its end edges. One object of this is to prevent the pads from leaving the pocket. vIn the'position which the parts occupy when ready for use, the bandage 10v substantially closes the pocket as shown in Figures 2 and 3, so that the pads may not unintentionally be removed from the pocket.

Figure 1 shows the bandage reversed; that is, turned to the opposite side of the pocket structure. This opens the pocket for the insertion of the pads. After the pads have been inserted, the bandage is returned to its normal position, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. This closes the pocket and the device. is then ready to be applied to the foot.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: Y 3

1. A foot corrective appliance comprising a bandage to be applied transversely about the foot; and a pocket structure secured to the bandage, said structure comprising an upper pocket member lying on the inner side of the bandage and a lower pocket member lying on the outer side of the bandage to which said bandage is attached, said members being secured togetheracross their ends,

leaving the parts open between their side edges to form an open pocket, sald'openlng being normally covered by-said bandage.

2. A foot corrective appliance comprising an elastic, closed band to be applied transversely aboutthe foot and a pocket structure comprising two relatively stifi plate said members secured together across their ends, leaving said members disconnected along their side edges and covered by said .band whereby said pocket is substantially closed by the band.

' 3; A foot corrective appliance comprising an elasticbandage to'be applied to the foot formed of a band stitched across its ends, with its ends in the same plane a pocket structure, comprising two relatively stiff plate members, said bandagesecured to one of said .plates by stitching between the ends of the bandage, the other plate registering with the first plate and overlying the bandage, and

means securing the ends of the plates together to form a side open pocket, sewed to the bandage, and into which to insert a pad.

4. A foot corrective appliance comprising an elastic bandage to be applied to the foot;

a pocket structure comprising two relatively an elastic bandage to be applied to the foot formed of a band joined together at its ends; a pocket structure comprising two relatively stiff plates projecting fore-and-aft of; said bandage and enclosing the joinedends thereof, one .ofwhich plates is directly connectedtoisaid bandage; means connecting the ends of the plates together to form an open pocket between theside edges of saidplates, said pocket being closed by said bandage by. overlying one-of saidjplates, and a pad insertable into said pocket when the said bandis turned over the other plate.

6. Ina-device of the'lclass described the.

combination with an endless elastic band of a pad holder comprising apocket like structure having-openings along two opposite edges thereof, the bandpassing-through said openings and being secured-centrally of the inner wall of one of the sides of the pad holder and a pad insertible in thezpad holder through one of the openings therein.

7. In a device of the class described the combination with-a pad holder comprising a pair of side pieces secured upon one another along the edgesthereof and having openings along two of its opposite edges. of an elastic band disposed between the sides of the pad holder and secured upon the inner wall of one ofsaidsides along a line extending-longitudinally of said side and a pad insertible between s'aid sides through one of the open- .ings in the pad holder.

8. In a device of the class described the combination with a pad holder comprising a pair of sheets of flexible: material secured upon one-another upon theirforward and rear edges whereby an opening is provided therethrough, the opening extending transversely of said holder, an elastic band extending through the said transverse opening in the pad holder, and a pad carried'between the flexiblesheets. V v

9. In a device of the class described the combination with a pad holder comprising a 7 pair of sheets of flexible material secured upon one another upon their forward and 'rear edges whereby anopening is provided therethrough, the opening extendingtransversely of said-holder, an elastic bandextending through the saidtransverse opening in the pad holder, a pad carried between the flexible sheets, and means for attaching the elastic band to one of the said flexible sheets. I

10. In a device of the class described the combination with a adholder comprising a pair of sheets of exible material secured upon one another upon their forward and rear edges whereby an opening is provided therethrough, the opening extending transversely of said holder, an elastic band extend- 7 ing through the said transverse opening in the pad holder, a pad-carried between the flexible sheets, and means for attachingthe elastic band to one of the saidfiexible'sheets, said means being arranged to secure the band to said flexible sheeting longitudinally of the pad holder and leaving the lateral edges of the elastic band free whereby all the elasticity of the band may be utilized.

11. In a device of the class described the combination with a pad holder comprising a base and a sheet of flexible material secured upon one another upon their forward and rear edges whereby an openingis provided therethrough, the opening extending transversely of the said holder, an elastic band extending through the said transverse opening in the pad holder, a pad carried between the base and flexible sheet and means for attaching the elastic band tothe base along a line extending longitudinally of the pad holder, thereby leaving-the lateral edges of the elastic band free for utilizing all the elasticity of said band.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

WILLIAM M. soHoLn r 

